Paul Okon Previews #F3Derby

It’s #F3Derby 43 and the Central Coast Mariners travel to Newcastle in a bid to claim ultimate bragging rights. Kick-off is 7:50pm at McDonald Jones Stadium and full season Mariners Members enter FREE!

Both the Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners kicked off their 2018 with a draw and will be hoping to remain undefeated in the new year.

The Jets travelled to Sydney FC to claim a point from the Champions whilst the Mariners battled with Melbourne Victory in Geelong to also claim a point in their come from behind 1-1 draw.

Indeed, the Mariners are without Danny De Silva, Trent Buhagiar and Tom Glover but Paul Okon is still faced with welcomed selection headaches with both Lachie Wales and Blake Powell combining off the bench to deliver the equaliser against Melbourne Victory.

Terrigal Junior Lachie Wales’ first touch was a pin point pass to a charging Blake Powell, who’s first touch was a simple tap in past Lawrence Thomas to earn his side a crucial point.

The Newcastle Jets took the lead twice during their first match of 2018 against Sydney FC thanks to strikes by inform attackers Andrew Nabbout and Joseph Champness but were pegged pack by Ninkovic and Bobo.

Across the rich history of the #F3Derby the Mariners still boast ultimate bragging rights having won 14, drawn 16 and losing 12 in this fixture.

Opta stat-attack

Only one of the last nine games between these teams has been won by the home team on the day (D5, L3).

Indeed, each of the last six clashes between these teams at McDonald Jones Stadium has ended in a draw.

Newcastle Jets will be searching for a third consecutive win at McDonald Jones Stadium under the same manager for the first time since a trio of 3-2 wins under Branko Culina in 2009/10.

Newcastle Jets have made 1,015 passes into the final third this campaign, the only team to have broken into four digits in the category.

The Mariners have made 6,604 passes so far, this campaign, the second-most of any team behind Sydney FC (6,709) and 1,404 more than the Jets.

Nikolai Topor-Stanley is the only player to have played every of the Jets’ 1,260 minutes this season.

Andrew Hoole has made 84 crosses this season, the third-most of any player behind Leroy George (14) and Dimitri Petratos (122).

Paolo in the Press

“After a short turnaround, our focus has very quickly shifted to the #F3Derby,” Okon said. “The message is, what the message has been leading into every game this season, we’re going there to win the football game and perform as best as we can.

“It’s a special game. We saw that in round one, so the players will be up for it. It’s not only important to us but to our supporters so no one wants to let anyone down and hopefully we will have the energy that’s needed to get the job done.

“It’s a really tough period with a lot of games in a short space of time with travel, with heat. We worked hard in pre-season for these sorts of periods. We are missing three players through national team duty, we’re not focusing on it, every team has to deal with it. Every player we have here is fit and available to play.

“Lachie is available for selection, he was great. It was no surprise to us because we know what he can deliver and what he’s capable of. His impact off the bench along with Blake’s came at a time when we needed energy and it worked out for us. Lachie has certainly put his hand up – if he starts, we have full confidence in him. If he comes off the bench again we already know what he’s capable of.

“We’re not really looking back at round one. On that night, we feel like we didn’t do too much wrong – we just got caught out in certain moments of the game. If you’re not going to be better in those moments you’re going to cop goals.

“it’s a tough game regardless of where we sit and where Newcastle sit on the ladder. It’s a derby and we’re looking forward to it. We can sense that there’s a bit of a niggle, a bit of bite back in it which is what everyone wanted at the start of the season. Hopefully this time we come out as winners.

“The players don’t need any form of extra motivation but certainly losing in round one 5-1 will probably sit in a number of people’s mind and if that adds extra motivation for them, then perfect.

“Hopefully like last season for the two derbies we went up there, we had fantastic support. Whoever makes the trip will help us to fight even harder to get a result,” Okon said.